Emil Ross Belcher

Emil R. Belcher, 20, son of Mr. and Mrs. Emil L. Belcher was killed instantly early last Thursday morning when his car hit a truck headon 10 miles east of Douglas.

Belcher was home on leave from the Navy and had been in Casper. He evidently dozed at the wheel and his car swerved into the path of the truck. He was alone.

Converse County Coroner Cecil Stark, formerly of Lusk, said Belcher was pinned in the car and that he suffered internal injuries.

Belcher was due back at his California Navy Base Sunday.

Funeral services were held at the Peet Chapel at 2:00 p.m. Sunday with Rev. Roger Koen officiating. Mrs. H. J. Templeton and Mrs. Carl Peterson sang "Beyond The Sunset" and "The Old Rugged Cross." Mrs. A. F. DeCastro was organist.

Military services will be held at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday in San Francisco and burial will be in the U.S. National Cemetery at Presideo near San Francisco. Military Escort was a friend, Ralph Barnes, USN.

Emil Ross Belcher was born July 15, 1939 in Harrison. He moved with his parents to California where he attended elementary school. They moved to Lusk in 1954. Graduating from Niobrara County High School at the semester, he enlisted in February 1958. this was his first visit home since he enlisted.

Survivors are his parents; two sisters, Mrs. Carrie Atwood of San Francisco and Sunday at home; a brother, Gary at home, two grandmothers, Mrs. Belcher of Lamar, Colo. and Mrs. Ara Gaythe of Lusk.

Out-of-town relatives her for the services were Mr. and Mrs. Henry Jordan of Hathaway, Mont. and Mrs. Kenneth Webber of Spokane, Wash.

Mr. and Mrs. Emil Belcher, Gary and Sunday left Monday to attend the military service in California.